Rajasthan Doctor scammed of Rs 37 lakh in digital arrest fraud

The ordeal began on July
16 when the doctor received a phone call from an individual posing as a Customs
Officer. The caller informed the doctor that a parcel had been intercepted,
containing 16 fake passports, 58 ATM cards, and 140 grams of MDMA drugs,
reports The Tribune.

The caller claimed that
the case had been handed over to the Delhi Police and would also involve the
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Shortly after, the doctor was contacted
by another individual, identifying himself as a CBI Special Officer. Under the
guise of authority, the scammers digitally arrested the doctor, transferring Rs 36.70 lakhs from his bank account to various other accounts.

An unidentified caller
called the victim on July 16 claimed to be a Customs Officer and informed him
that the Delhi Police had taken possession of a package under his name
containing sixteen counterfeit passports, fifty-eight ATM cards, and one
hundred forty grammes of MDMA. The CBI, he added, would look into it as well,
reports the Daily.

Sub-Inspector Hansraj,
the lead investigator on the case, reported that the funds extorted from the
doctor were initially deposited into three different bank accounts before being
dispersed across approximately 18 accounts. A significant portion of the money,
amounting to Rs 5 lakhs, was traced back to an individual’s account. It is
alleged that the accused was a labourer by profession and he was manipulated by
another individual, who convinced him to sign a cheque and hand over his bank
passbook. In exchange for his cooperation, he just received a mere Rs 6,000.

As the investigation
continues, authorities are actively searching for the mastermind, who has
reportedly gone missing. The police have managed to place the Rs 5 lakhs from his
account on hold, but the majority of the fraudulent funds have already been
withdrawn by the scammers.